is a Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese judoka

Judo

is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...

.

Yamashita is from Takayama, Gifu

Takayama, Gifu

is a city located in Gifu, Japan. As of July, 2011 the city has an estimated population of 92,369. The total area is .Takayama was settled as far back as the Jōmon period. Takayama is best known for its inhabitants' expertise in carpentry. It is believed carpenters from Takayama worked on the...

 and began judo when she was in second grade. After graduating from Tohwa University

Tohwa University

is a private university in Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan, established in 1967.-External links:*...

, she began working for the Osaka Prefectural Police. In 2000, Yamashita won the All-Japan Championships

All-Japan Judo Championships

is a judo tournament held every year in Japan. The men's tournament is held in Nippon Budokan on April 29 and the women's tournament is held in Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium in April. The Kodokan and All-Japan Judo Federation sponsor the championship....

 and the and was chosen to represent Japan in the Olympics Games held in Sydney

Sydney

Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...

. There she defeated Christine Cicot

Christine Cicot

Christine Cicot is a French judoka, Olympic medalist and world champion. She received a bronze medal in the heavyweight division at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. She became world champion in Paris 1997.-References:...

 by Osotogari to win a bronze medal.

Yamashita retired after the competition in 2003.

Achievements

• 1997 - All-Japan Championships
  All-Japan Judo Championships
  is a judo tournament held every year in Japan. The men's tournament is held in Nippon Budokan on April 29 and the women's tournament is held in Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium in April. The Kodokan and All-Japan Judo Federation sponsor the championship....
  
   (Openweight only) 3rd

- All-Japan University Championships (Openweight only) 2nd

- All-Japan University Weight Class Championships (+78 kg) 3rd

• 1998 - All-Japan Weight Class Championships (+78 kg) 2nd
• 1999 - Fukuoka International Championships (+78 kg) 1st

- Universiade

Universiade

The Universiade is an International multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation . The name is a combination of the words "University" and "olympiad"...

 (Openweight) 2nd

• 2000 - Olympic Games
  Olympic Games
  The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
  
   (+78 kg) 3rd

- Asian Championships

Asian Judo Championships

Asian Judo Championships is the Judo Asian Championship organized by the Judo Union of Asia.The men's tournament began in 1966 and was held approximately every four years, until 1991, when it became an annual event The women's tournament was first staged in 1981, and it has been held with the...

 (+78 kg) 3rd

- Fukuoka International Championships (+78 kg) 3rd

- All-Japan Championships (Openweight only) 1st

- All-Japan Weight Class Championships (+78 kg) 1st

• 2001 - East Asian Games
  East Asian Games
  The East Asian Games is a multi-sport event organised by the East Asian Games Association and held every four years since 1993 among athletes from East Asian countries and territories of the Olympic Council of Asia , as well as the Pacific island of Guam, which is a member of the Oceania National...
  
  (Openweight) 2nd

- Fukuoka International Championships (+78 kg) 3rd

- All-Japan Championships (Openweight only) 2nd

- All-Japan Weight Class Championships (+78 kg) 2nd

• 2002 - All-Japan Weight Class Championships (+78 kg) 2nd